Alternating current electrolytic capacitor



May 2, 1961 H. M. GABLES 2,982,891

ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR Filed May 2, 1958 i INVENTOR.

United States Patent O ALTERNATING 'CURRENT ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR This invention relates to improvements in electrolytic capacitors, particularly with reference to United States Patent No. 2,73 6,846, previously obtained by me.

l have found that an electrolytic capacitor may be made up of an acid solution alone as the electrolyte in combination with silver electrodes or with copper electrodes, thus dispensing with the use of metallic salts such as silver nitrate or copper nitrate in the electrolyte. Such a combination is especially suited for use in low voltage circuits, such as a TV antenna circuit. Acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, or nitric may be used in dilute solutions. The concentration of acid is not critical, but 1 have found that l normal solutions produce the best results.

I have also found that the use of distilled water for the electrolytic solution improves the general functioning of my device. However, I have used ordinary tap water for the electrolytic solution, but the impurities in tap water such as ions of calcium and magnesium salts cause the formation of films on the electrode after the device has been operating for some time, thereby resulting in lower capacitance, and an excessive voltage drop particularly in power circuits.

Another improvement which l have-discovered is the application of a thin coating of grease or wax on the surface of the electrodes to form a protective coating thereon, thereby greatly decreasing the tendency of the electrodes to form lms such as oxides or sulfldes of the metal used as the electrode. The formation of lilms on the surface of the electrodes is highly undesirable since such films increase the resistance of the electrodes thereby reducing the capacitance of the device and eventually blocking current flow in power circuits and detuning anrenna circuits.

Any type of grease or wax may be used which is water repellent, acid resistant, and capable of withstanding temperatures up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit or more. I have found that greases containing chemicals such as aluminum oleate or aluminum stearate are satisfactory, as well as waxes such as Sirnoniz, the well-known automobile polish. Regular automobile lubricating oil is also suitable for this purpose, as well as petroleum jelly.

l have further found that the metal for the electrodes may be any metal below hydrogen in the electrornotive (E.M.F.) series in combination with any salt of that metal or of any other metal below hydrogen in the E.M.F. series which dissociates in an ionizing medium such as water or other ionizing liquids. For example, silver electrodes may be used in combination with an aqueous solution of copper sulfate as the electrolyte, and conversely, copper electrodes may be used in cornbination with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate.

Salts of metals' above hydrogen in the series may be used in combination with electrodes composed of metals below hydrogen in the series, particularly in low voltage circuits such as an antenna circuit. For example, a dilute solution of sodium chloride in water will produce the desired results with silver or copper electrodes. Such metallic salts must be capable of ionization when added to an ionizing medium such as water.

Coatings of the proper metals may be used as electrodes as well, either over another metal or over an inert material such as glass. For example, I have made up electrodes consisting of a silver coating over glass and a silver coating over copper. The thickness of the silver coating may vary from 0.0001 to 0.0005 inch with satisfactory results. I have found that where the silver coating is over copper, after a period of operation of the device, the copper will come through the silver. This can be prevented by applying a thin coating of grease or wax over the silver coating, as mentioned above.

It is, therefore, the functioning of ing distilled water trolytic solution.

It is a further object of my invention to provide the use of an acid solution as the electrolyte in my capacitor, thereby dispensing with the use of metallic salts in the electrolyte.

Another object of my invention is the application of a thin coating of grease or wax, automobile lubricating oil or petroleum jelly, on the electrode surfaces to decrease any formation of tlm such as oxides or sullides of the metal of the electrodes.

A still further object of my invention is to provide the use of any metal below hydrogen in the series in combination with any salt of such metal or any other metal below hydrogen in the series in an ionizing medium.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating how my electrolytic capacitor may be connected in the power circuit and antenna circuit of a typical communications receiver.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross section along line 3 3 of Figure 2.

A typical unit of the device may be made up as follows:

The electrolyte solution is grams of silver nitrate with 12 grams of distilled water to form a saturated solution of silver nitrate. A saturated solution will produce the greatest conduc 'vity, but my device will operate when only 5 to l0 percent solutions of silver nitrate or other proper electrolyte are used.

To this solution is added 3 milligrams of pure gelatin to buffer and stabilize the mixture. Greater amounts of gelatin may be used if desired. The plastic case 16 is cast or molded of plastic material with cavities 17 for the electrodes 18 and a central bore 19. I have found epoxy resins to be suitable as the plastic material for the case. The electrodes are first covered with a thincoating, about 1,4;2 of an inch thick, of Sirnoniz wax; Figures 2 and 3 show the coating, 24.

The electrodes 18, are then inserted, two to each cavity 17, in the case 16. The ends of the electrodes are tted into the notches 21, at the bottom of the cavities 17. The cavity openings 20, are then closed with cotton fillers 22 after the electrolyte 23 has been added. The electrolytic solution must not touch the cotton fillers, else it would be absorbed thereon.

Then, the cavity openings 20 are sealed hermetically with liquid epoxy resin poured over the cotton fillers 22 as a sealant 25, leaving the tops of the electrodes 18 free to be connected to the conductors 27 as shown in Figure 2. The insulation 26 prevents any possible shortan object of my invention to improve my electrolytic capacitor by substitutlfor tap water in making up the elecprepared by mixing 18 ing the the `--Asliown in Figure l", the device' niay be used iu both the power leads 11 and antenna leads 13v of the communications" receiver 1t).v I- have found that'` best results are btned when the device; 1li isY used in 'series of two u' "between the power source 15 andthe' communications receiver 1G power input, and in series of twoV unitsl be weernthe antenna 14v and the"antenna'V lead inputV of iae'ree'eiver' 10. i j }"3Whe`r`r`placed in operation, the" capacitorsproduced aJIY1 picture of greatly improvedlvdeti'niticnd'e, to better tage regulation and'reductiony ofV interference hash. Ina ced results have beeny obtainedthe sef of these inv both color and black/arid Vwhite TV sets. Further, audiointerference is attenuated. u

"'"Wlile I haveV describedY my invent-ion' inl detail' with reference to the accompanying drawingillnstrating the preferred form ofV my invention, it ist understoodY that numerous changes in the details and construetionV and arrangement of parts may benia'de"y without departing ltrenini thel spirit and scope ofthe inventionI as hereinaftar claiine'dd l I claim: Y 1 L alternating current eleetrolytic capacitor comprisinga pair ofspaced nonpolarizedxelectrodes each electrode in lturn acting as a cathode and then as an nodlwhile theother is an anode and then a cathode coated with silver, a coatingI of grease over the silver ,fa solution of copper sulfate in distilled water w h Aisin contact withV said coating, and means for conducting alternating electric current to and from said eleetrodes." I

2 An alternatingv current electrolytic capacitor comothe current. A female plug 28 is then tted over Y 4 acid over said electrodes and in contact with said electrolyte, and means for conducting alternating electric current to and from said electrodes. f

6. An alternating current electrolytic capacitor coni prising a pair of spaced nonpolarized electrodes eachV electrode in turn acting asa cathode and then as an anode while the other is an anode and then a cathode o a metal below hydrogen in the electrcrnotive series, an electrolyte containing aqueous hydrochloric acid, a coating of a semi-solid mixture of paraffin hydrocarbons resistant to water, heat, and acid over said electrodes and in contact with said electrolyte, andk means for conducting alternating electric current to and from said electrodes.

7. An alternating current electrolytic capacitor comprising a pair of spaced nonpolarized electrodes each electrode in turn acting as a cathode and then as an anode whle'the other is an anodeand then a cathode of a rnetal belowvhydrogen in the electrolnotive series, an

Velectrolyte containing aqueous sulfuric acid, a coating prising a' pair ofspaced nonpolarized electrodes each g electrode turn-acting'ras a cathode and then as an anode #while theothe'r is an anode and then a cathode coatedY with copper, a coating of grease over -the copper coatingea solutionrof silverV nitrate'` in distilled water whichl inl contact withV said coating, and means for conducting alternating electric current to and from said electrodes. n

"4f '-alternating current electrolytic capacitor compr "ng'a ,pair of spaced nonpolarized electrodes each elet-,triide-4 in turn acting asV a'l cathode and then as an anodewwlhile the other is an anode and then'a cathode oi?Y :gmetalmbelow' hydrogen inthe electrornotive series, arr'electrolyte/containingsaid electrodes and composed olf-a` allie salt of a metal abovehydrogen in the elec-V troin'o'trve series dissolved in an ionizing medium, a coati'n denti-solid"mixture of paraffin' hydrocarbons resistantto'water, acid,.and'heat over said electrodes and iicntact with said electrolyte,'and means for conductingalteinating electric current to and from said electrode/sk; n Y '7.

WAalternating current electrolyte capacitor cornp rngfal pair otV spacednonpolarized electrodes each elecrodin turn acting as a cathode and then as an anode ytlnleftheV other is an anode and then a cathode of a inetalrbelow hydrogen in the electrornotivey series, an electrolyte `comprising a metallic salt of a metal above hydo'gen in the electrornotive series dissolved in an ronizanginedium, a coating of grease over said electrodes rrneontact with said electrolyte, and means for conducting'ealternating electric current to and from said electrodes.

of a semi-solid mixture of parain hydrocarbons resistant to water, heat, and acid, over said electrodes and in contact with said electrolyte, and means for conducting alternating electric current to andrrom saidelectrodes.V

r S.' An alternating current electrolytic capacitor comprising' a pair of spaced nonpolarized electrodes each electrode in turn acting as a cathode and then as an anode while the other is an anode and then a'cathode ofY a metal below hydrogen in the electrornotive series, an electrolyte containing laqueous nitric acid, a coating ofv a semi-solid mixture of paraflin hydrocarbons resistant to water, heat, and acid, over said electrodes and in contact with said electrolyte, and means for conducting alternating electric current to and from said electrodes.

9. An alternating current electrolytic capacitor comprising a pair of spaced nonpolarized electrodes each eleetrode in turn actingas a cathode and then as an l mode'whilethe' other is an anode and then a cathode oa metalbelow hydrogen in the" elec romotive series, a proton yielding electrolytea coating of grease over said electrodes and in Contact with said electrolyte, and means for conducting alternating electric current to and from said electrode'slV c Y 1U. An alternating current`-electrolytic capacitor coinprising a pair of spaced'nonpolarized electrodes each electrode` in turn acting as a cathode and then asl an anodefhile the other is an anode and then a cathode off a nlvetaltbelow hydrogen in the ele'ctromotive series, afpr'oton yielding electrolyte, a coatingof wax over said electredes Vand in Contact with said electrolyte, .and means Vfor conducting alternating electric current to and from Vsaid electrodes.

YVll. lnl a nonpolarized alternating" current electrolytic capacitor." of the type havingtwo electrodes alternating in polarity Ywithv eachother and composed oi the saine metal, said metal being below hydrogen in the electrornotive series', and havingan electrolyte of a` metal below hydrogen in the electromotive series, the improvement comprising a coating of grease over said electrodes which coating is in Contact with said electrolyte.

rl2. A capacitor according to claim ll wherein the coating is of a semi-solid mixture of paraffin hydrocarbonsresistant to water, heat, and acid` 13. A capacitor according to claim ll wherein the coating is Yof wax.

14. A nonpolarized alternating current electrolytic capacitor .comprising a pair of spaced electrodes of a metal below' hydrogen in the electrorno'tive series, an electrolyte of'a metal below* hydrogenV in Vthe electromotive series which metal is dierent from thernetal of the electrodes, a coating of'a scrnifs'olid mixture ot parathn hydrocarbons resistantntolwat'er, heat, and acid over said' electrodes and in contact withsaid electrolyte, an fm'eans for conducting' alternating electric' current to and from said electrodes'.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Huber Sept. 29, 1925 Ruben Mar. 15, 1932 Ruben July 18, 1933 6 Weaver Aug. 4, 1936 Becker Feb. 16, 1937 Hardway July 7, 1953 Gables Feb. 28, 1956 Becker July 23, 1957 Aikman Ian. 27, 1959 Hovey Oct. 27, 1959 

